ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Tourism
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani to inaugurate the two day meet on Destination Management and Community Participation in Gujarat
Minister of State for Tourism and Culture  Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupaniwill inaugurate the two day event/meeting on Destination Management and CommunityParticipation, in Gujsraton 13thFebruary 2020. The event has been organized by the Ministries of Tourism and Culture incooperation with the Government of Gujarat at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
The event has been convened to discuss theimportance of Destination Management and Community Participation in thetourism sector. The event shall involve speaker sessions by governmentofficials, tourism industry, private sector entrepreneurs, etc. showcasing bestpractices/case studies from various States & Union Territories in the relatedfield. The meeting shall aid in understanding the concepts & frameworks,approaches, challenges faced in implementation and impact generated bysuch initiatives on the society &the overall economy.
The event will highlight on benefits to local communities by way ofimparting skillsets necessary for prudent hospitality industry and cross-cultural learning exchanges to improve employability of the local people.Socio-economic benefits for the community could be enabled by makingthem lead the development initiatives.
The event aims to encourage constructive discussions and collaborationbetween various stakeholders for achieving sustainable destination. Based onrecommendations and discussion, a Task Force shall be constituted todocument the approach benefits, challenges, recommendations, case studiesand proposed way forward action plan to assist in policy formulation andfuture reference for the stakeholders.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"हिमाचल प्रदेश के सभी लोगों को पूर्ण राज्यत्व दिवस पर ढेरों शुभकामनाएं। मेरी कामना है कि प्रकृति की गोद में बसा यह राज्य निरंतर प्रगति के पथ पर आगे बढ़ता रहे और देश के विकास में भी अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भागीदारी निभाता रहे।"
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
Chairman, KVIC reviews Khadi institutions at Murshidabad
Chairman, Khadi Village Industries Commission Shri Manoj Kumar visited various Khadi institutions located in Murshidabad, West Bengal on January 11, 2023. During this, Chairman visited Chandrakala Lalit Mohan Resham Khadi Samiti, Chak Islampur and Bharat Khadi Institute, Lal Bagh, Berhampur and reviewed the Khadi activities carried out by the Khadi institutions. Meanwhile, the artisans of the Khadi institutions collectively thanked him for revising the Artisan Workshed Guidelines to increase the total cost per workshed from Rs.60,000 to Rs.1,20,000. Khadi artisans across the country will be benefitted. Chairman also instructed to take appropriate action on the proposal to provide assistance for the artisans' pension scheme.
Chairman also assured for the minimum monthly pension to be provided under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana  to ensure old age security. During his visit, the Chairman reviewed SFURTI and KRDP scheme and observed the infrastructure developed under these schemes for machinery, loom, charkha and common facility centre etc. to fully utilize the scheme and target DPR/scheme and instructed to ensure results accordingly.
Shri Manoj Kumar also attended the felicitation programme in State Level Khadi, Handicrafts and Handloom Fair organized by West Bengal State Khadi and Village Industries Board at Square Field, Berhampur, Murshidabad.
MJPS
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
NHAI Announces Digital Photography Contest
Celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, NHAI has announced a Digital Photography Contest to encourage the professional and amateur photographers across the country. The theme of the photography contest is ‘National Highways through the Eyes of the Camera’. The contest is open for Indian nationals and has two separate categories for Amateur and Professional participants. There are of six prizes to be won and the first prize of Rs. 50,000 will be awarded to winner in each category. Apart from these, ten consolation prizes of Rs. 10,000 each will also be awarded.
Participants can visit NHAI website and select any one category to participate. Photographs should not be older than one year. Each participant can upload upto two photographs of maximum 5 MB each. The last date to participate is 22nd July 2022.
Using the medium of photography, the contest will capture and present multi-faceted images of the National Highways in India. Apart from capturing aesthetics and expanse of the highways, the contest will also spread the message of connectivity and easy access through implementation of the Highway infrastructure projects.
In the past few years, the National Highway network has rapidly grown in the country. NHAI is implementing ambitious programs like the Bharatmala Pariyojna that includes implementation of 22 Greenfield expressways and access-controlled corridors. These world class corridors will connect hinterland & emerging economic regions to usher in growth and prosperity and reduce travel time of freight and passenger traffic.
Ministry of Finance
Finance Minister Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman chairs meeting to discuss infrastructure road map ahead
Finance Minister conveys to Ministries to front-load their capital expenditure
Finance Minister told Ministries and their CPSEs to ensure clearance of MSME’s dues at the earliest
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman today held a virtual meeting with senior government officials to discuss the infrastructure roadmap ahead. This was the fourth review meeting by the Finance Minister with Ministries/Departments and second in the series of meetings scheduled on the infrastructure roadmap ahead after the presentation of Budget 21-22. During the meeting, Capital Expenditure Plans of Ministries and their CPSEs, status of implementation of budget announcements and measures to expedite infrastructure investment were discussed. The meeting was attended by Finance Secretary, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Secretary, M/o Power and Chairman, Railway Board & CEO as well as CMDs/CEOs of CPSEs of these two Ministries.
While reviewing the capital expenditure performance of the Ministries and their CPSEs, the Finance Minister emphasized that enhanced capex will play a critical role in revitalising the economy postpandemic and encouraged the Ministries to front-load their capital expenditure.Ministries were also requested to aim to achieve more than their capex targets.The Finance Minister said that the Budget for Financial Year 2021-22 provided a capital outlay of Rs.5.54 lakh crore, a sharp increase of 34.5% over the Budget Estimate of 2020-21. However, the efforts from the budgetary side to increase the capital expenditure have to be complemented by the Public Sector Enterprises, she added.
The Finance Minister also highlighted that the infrastructure expenditure is not just central government budgetary expenditure on infrastructure and includes infrastructures pending by state governments and the private sector.It also includes government expenditure through extra-budgetary resources. Therefore, Ministries are to actively work on getting projects funded through innovative structuring and financing and provide all support to private sector for enhancing infrastructure spending, the Finance Minister said, adding that the Ministriesalso need to explore PPP mode for viable projects. The finance minister also asked the Ministries and their CPSEs to ensure clearance of MSME’s dues at the earliest.
While concluding, the Finance Minister also requested the Secretaries of Ministries to push expenditure on large important projects to ensure that the achievement is commensurate with timelines. She also asked the Ministries to take up regular reviews of sector-specific projects with the concerned State Governments for effective implementation of the same. The Finance Minister said that she will continue to hold regular review meetings with all Ministries/Departments.
RM/MV/KMN
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Migration of Diesel Vehicles
Government has notified GSR 167 dated 1st March, 2019 for retro-fitment of hybrid electric system or electric kit to vehicles and their compliance standards shall be as per AIS 123. This Ministry has issued a notification G.S.R 1151 dated 29.11.2018 in which emission norms of agricultural tractors, power tillers, construction equipment vehicles and combined harvesters driven by dual fuel diesel with Compressed Natural Gas or Bio-Compressed Natural Gas or Liquefied Natural Gas engines have been laid down.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified G.S.R. 889 dated 16th September, 2016, for use of Hydrogen as an automotive fuel in the country. The specifications for Hydrogen for Internal Combustion Engine have been specified in Annexure IV-W of the said notification. 18% blend of Hydrogen with CNG  has been notified by this Ministry vide G.S.R. 585 dated 25th September, 2020. This Ministry vide G.S.R. 579 dated 23rd September, 2020 has notified safety norms regarding hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and its components.
This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Communications
254 4G Mobile Towers to be dedicated to Nation in Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his speech on 16th Civil Services Day had said “We consider remotest border village as country’s first village, not last and we shall require sincere efforts and innovative means to attain 100% saturation “
As part of the effort, Government of India has approved 2,605 4G mobile towers for providing connectivity to more than 3,721 villages in Arunachal Pradesh with a total outlay of Rs 2,675 crore.
These 254 4G mobile towers will be dedicated to the Nation on April 22, 2023 by Minister for Communications, Railways and Electronics & IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw; Minister for Law and Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju; Minister of State for Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan and Arunachal Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu calong with senior officials from the Central and State Governments. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the State Legislative Assembly in Itanagar.
The towers will provide 4G coverage in hitherto uncovered villages, thereby bringing digital connectivity to 336 villages, including several areas which have remained unconnected since Independence. It is expected over 70,000 subscribers shall be benefited and expected data usage may cross 40TB every month.
Access to high-speed network connectivity is being ensured for the state of Arunachal Pradesh through various schemes and projects such as ‘Comprehensive telecom development plan  for the North-Eastern Region’, ‘Provisioning of Mobile Services in Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam’ and 4G saturation project.
India is relentlessly working towards ensuring digital and mobile inclusivity across the country and empowering of common citizens through last mile digital revolution and rapid proliferation of mobile and digital services.
Prime Minister's Office
PM shares article by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya about self-reliance in fertiliser sector
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared an article by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya about self-reliance in fertiliser sector.
Retweeting a tweet by Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted:
“Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Ji writes how India’s department of fertilisers has made significant strides in achieving self-reliance in the sector... Do read!”
Special Service and Features
The convergence of people, culture, and rich tradition of Tamilnadu has preserved the unique biodiversity of the region: Union Minister for Environment Shri Bhupender Yadav in Chennai
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav has said, “The convergence of people, culture, and rich tradition of the beautiful state of Tamilnadu has preserved the unique biodiversity of the region.” This was stated by the Minister in Chennai today during the inauguration of a special exhibition on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity. Along with Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Minister for Environment, Government of Tamilnadu Shri Siva. V. Meyyanathan, Shri Bhupender Yadav released a special commemorative postal cover and a book titled ‘India Natural’ and also conferred the India Biodiversity Awards-2021.
While delivering his speech, the Union Minister appealed to the people to take a pledge to work towards conserving biodiversity and sensitising the youth on the issues of conservation. “Biodiversity offers us goods and services that provide the world’s natural living infrastructure and are essential for a well-functioning global economy. It is estimated that approximately 40% of the world’s economy is based on biological products or processes. Any effort at conserving and enhancing biodiversity can only succeed if we tackle the challenge of global warming. Global warming has to be urgently brought under control”, he reiterated.
The Minister stated that the country is on track to achieve the biodiversity targets at the national level and is also contributing significantly towards the achievement of the global biodiversity targets. Further, India has established a unique 3-tier model of participatory biodiversity resource governance at the national, state, and local-body levels, thus ensuring that the entire country gets the representation in our governance system.
Shri Bhupender Yadav also said the Lake Sembakkam, one of the most critical and fragile marshlands of the state is undergoing science-based lake restoration through the efforts of government and civil society organizations. He expressed confidence that this ecological restoration would serve as a role model for other cities in the country.
He informed that as a part of access and benefit-sharing , National Biodiversity Authority and the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board  are working with the Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society  to provide access to snake venom to a company namely, iSERA Biological Pvt. Ltd which has signed the ABS agreement. According to this, 5% of the total purchase price of snake venom on an annual basis is being deposited in the ISCICS account for benefit of the community. Such partnerships are needed to strengthen and incentivise conservation, he added.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
T V K REDDY TO ATTEND AS INDIAN DELEGATE IN SECOND MASS MEDIA FORUM OF THE SCO COUNTRIES IN KYRGYZSTAN FROM MAY 23 TO 26
Shri T V K Reddy, Additional Director General, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Region has been nominated by Government of India as a delegate to the Second Mass Media forum of SCO  countries. The event is organised by Kyrgyz Republic’s Ministry of culture, Information & Tourism from May 23 to 26, 2019 in Bishkek.
The topic of the Mass Media forum is the “Role of mass media in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”. This event will become a unique platform for active work through the mass media to create an objective vision of the organization and strengthen its positive image in the global information space.
The first SCO Media Summit was held in Beijing on 1st June 2018 under the motto “Development of the Shanghai spirit and opening of a new era in the mass media cooperation”, where over 110 media outlets from 16 countries participated, including SCO member states, observer states and Dialogue partners.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
More than 1 crore doses have been administered in the last 24 hours
87.07 Cr. vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India reports daily new cases less than 20,000 after 201 days; 18,795 new cases in the last 24 hours
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.87%; Lowest since March 2020
India's Active caseload stands at 2,92,206; lowest in 192 days
Recovery Rate currently at 97.81%; Highest since March 2020
26,030 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,29,58,002
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 95 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 3% for last 29 days
56.57 cr Total Tests conducted so far
President's Secretariat
President of India graces Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Karnatak Law Society and Raja Lakhamgouda Law College
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, graced and addressed the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnatak Law Society and the Raja Lakhamgouda Law College today  in Belagavi, Karnataka.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that law is not a career, it is a calling. It is a mechanism to assist the cause of justice, to help the poorest and most unfortunate among us, and to build a society and nation defined by adherence to rules, norms and fairness. Advocates and judges are, in the ultimate analysis, seekers of truth.
The President said that we live in an age of technology and of entrepreneurship. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. It is changing how we live and work. It is also changing aspirations of our young people. Our educational institutions have to become compatible with this quest for innovation and excellence. They have to become compatible with the 21st century.
The President said that the teaching of law, the very evolution of law, amid rapid technological development is critical. The time span for an innovation to take place, and for its mass application in society, is shortening very sharply. This will throw up numerous challenges for law – in areas such as genetic engineering, bioethics and artificial intelligence, among others. The legal profession has to respond quickly. He expressed confidence that our leading legal minds will put their thoughts into such matters.
Text of President's Speech
Prime Minister's Office
English Translation of Opening Remarks by Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi at Quad Leaders’ Summit
Your Excellencies,
Prime Minister Kishida, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Biden.
Prime Minister Kishida, thank you very much for your wonderful hospitality. It's a great pleasure for me to be among friends in Tokyo today.
I first of all congratulate Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the victory in elections, many congratulations. Your being with us only after 24 hours of taking the oath shows the strength of Quad friendship and your commitment to it.
Excellencies,
In such a short time, Quad has assumed an important place on the world stage.
Today the scope of Quad has become broader and the format has become effective.
Our mutual trust, our determination, is giving new energy and enthusiasm to the democratic forces.
Our mutual cooperation at the Quad level is giving a boost to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, which is the common objective of all of us.
In spite of the adverse circumstances of COVID-19, we have increased coordination in many areas such as vaccine-delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response and economic cooperation. This is ensuring peace, prosperity and stability in Indo-Pacific.
Quad is carrying a constructive agenda for the Indo-Pacific region.
This will further strengthen the image of the Quad as a 'Force for Good'.
Thank you very much.
DISCLAIMER - This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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COVID-19 Vaccination Update - Day 277
India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 99 crore landmark milestone
More than 37 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 99 Crore landmark milestone  today. More than 37 lakh  Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.
The cumulative coverage of vaccine doses, segregated based on population priority groups, is as follows:
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Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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1,03,76,088
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2nd Dose
|
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90,98,102
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FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,83,62,666
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2nd Dose
|
|
1,55,80,422
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Age Group 18-44 years
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|
1st Dose
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39,71,60,687
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2nd Dose
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11,56,21,264
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Age Group 45-59 years
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1st Dose
|
|
16,87,84,779
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2nd Dose
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8,76,27,981
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Over 60 years
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1st Dose
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10,62,56,993
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2nd Dose
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6,20,28,532
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Cumulative 1st dose administered
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70,09,41,213
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Cumulative 2nd dose administered
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28,99,56,301
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Total
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99,08,97,514
Today’s achievement in the vaccination exercise, segregated by population priority groups, is as follows:
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Date: 19th October, 2021 
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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80
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2nd Dose
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5,508
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FLWs
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1st Dose
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173
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2nd Dose
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17,221
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Age Group 18-44 years
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1st Dose
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12,16,116
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2nd Dose
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14,41,208
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Age Group 45-59 years
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1st Dose
|
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3,09,399
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2nd Dose
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4,36,852
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Over 60 years
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1st Dose
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1,53,322
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2nd Dose
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2,12,858
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1st Dose Administered in Total
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16,79,090
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2nd Dose Administered in Total
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21,13,647
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Total
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37,92,737
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Marine Pollution
National Centre for Coastal Research , an attached office of MoES, is collecting the real-time information on coastal water quality by deploying water quality buoys at 10m water depth in coastal waters. The collected data is shared with the State Pollution Control Boards.
The Central Pollution Control Board  has instructed all the coastal State Pollution Control Boards  and the Pollution Control Committees  of the Union Territories for developing an action plan for prevention of coastal pollution. NCCR, MoES is assisting SPCBs and PCCs in this exercise.
NCCR has taken up several initiatives to augment the scientific and research capabilities.
- For continuous water quality observations, a network of water quality buoys is being deployed along the coast.
- Along with the traditional methods of identification and analysis of biological samples, advanced techniques like use of molecular tools are being employed.
- Collaborations with leading oceanography institutes of the world 
- New research programs like Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Litter Monitoring, Coastal Flooding have been initiated.
The following measures are being implemented:
i. Preparation of action plans by the coastal states and Union Territories to reduce marine pollution.
ii. Deployment of water quality buoys to get real-time information on coastal water quality.
iii. Scientific exercise has been taken up to study the marine outfalls along the Indian coast to check the compliance in respect to existing standards and update the standards to prevent deterioration of coastal waters. Clean coast campaigns are taken up regularly to create awareness among the public and stakeholders to keep the beaches and coastal areas clean.
This information was given by the Minister of State  for M/o Earth Sciences and M/o Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.